Poor man's side by side

[NS Gearhead]

I sure would love a new Rzr 1000, but at $23K it's about $20K more then I could ever afford. LOL

So started with a $500 1997 Tracker




Thought I'd sell some un-needed parts on kijiji to recoup some cash, but even with resonable prices didn't sell a thing. Momma's not too happy as I used that in my argument to get it. LOL

Day 1; top, spare tire/ gate, doors, winchield, bumpers, and carpet removed.




I ripped the muffler off and tore the downpipe on the first rock I drove over, so those were removed as well. She's open header and way too loud. I'm going to try to re-instal the muffler using the parts I removed. On the plus side it seems to have more pep then it did so the cat was probably plugged. That and 4x4 doesn't work. The driver's side hub clicks when it's time to turn the tire so I have to remedy that.... and obviously it could use some bumpers and rockers wich I'll replace with some rock sliders.

The plan (for now) is a 3" lift and 31" tires. Keep it open and light. May weld the rear end. I'd like to re-gear the T-case, but that's pretty big money for a budget beater. We'll see.

 

[Egbert]

LOL - Been there. I used a 2001 Kia Sportage. You wanna talk reliable ... this thing was the bomb. With 235K miles it still ran like a top!

Unfortunately, driving through the hay fields for several years finally took its toll. The KIA suffered a M A S S I V E combination mechanical and electrical failure as I was cruising down the road. Just wasn't worth the cost to try and get it going again, so opted for a real UTV at $10K.

 

[john40981]

nice project, I did think of this idea myself instead of an expensive side by side but ended up with a couple of quads instead. Good luck with the mods and repairs:thumbsup:

 

[dave1949]

You are having low-cost fun, that's the main thing.

The prices on side-by-sides and UTV's are crazy unless you have a real need for them, which I don't. They are getting so fancy its like they are re-inventing a Samuri or Tracker anyways.

 

[Dr Dave]

Looks like fun, I would like a Razor also, but the prices are crazy.

Dave

 

[Dr Dave]

Looks like fun, I would like a Razor also, but the prices are crazy.

Dave

 

[NS Gearhead]

Forgot to say; this all started with wanting to build a 2 seater go kart so I'll be able to bring my daughter around the trail/ track once it's done. When I started adding up the parts I quickly realized this would be way cheaper and 4wd! Currently looking around for wore out mud tires I can re-groove, and found some manual hubs for $40!

 

[SPIKER]

I agree with the same ideas, I bought a 1990 Nissan Pathfinder, had a bad lower strut rid and needed all new brake lines 62K miles on it for 1K. Fixed a few things and drive it on-road for 2 years when fuel pump quit (turned out to be bad wires to pump.) had to have it towed home which blew out the steering box seal so parked it with 70K on it all new tires stiff full of air one day I'll maybe resurrect it as a woods beater side-by-side as no way I'd pay more than 2 or 3 k for one lol...

Mark

 

[IndyIan]

I've got an 03 tracker and someday it will be my 130 hp, 90 mph, 5 seater side by side... It needs a skid plate and some bigger tires to really go off road. But for general farm duty it does a good job now and I have it plated to drive on the highway!

 

[pat32rf]

Instead of welding the dif, I'd install dual emergency brake cables and levers like we used to in dune buggys.... That way you can still drive on the grass or hard surfaces.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Instead of welding the dif, I'd install dual emergency brake cables and levers like we used to in dune buggys.... That way you can still drive on the grass or hard surfaces.

Dunno how that's going to give me more traction... maybe help me cut corners better but she's pretty manuverable as she is. However, the trails this is going to be used on are not extreme, or terribly muddy so I may hold off on that for the sake of easyer steering.

This is supposed to be a winter project to help fend off the winter blues... but I can't leave anything alone. LOL

Rear "bumper" removed. Glad that's off. I was affraid the little one would scratch herself walking by. Wagon's there to keep it off the floor. LOL


Man it's a mess. The plan is to cut until the rust is gone and rebuild from there.


Forgot to take a before pic, but here's after the bad stuff's cut out. 2X3 square tubing's gonna fit right nice under there.


Took the seat out after taking the pic. I've never done sills, or body work before. I plan to clamp the tubing in place and spot weld on top and on the inside.

 

[mikehaugen]

Dunno how that's going to give me more traction... maybe help me cut corners better but she's pretty manuverable as she is. However, the trails this is going to be used on are not extreme, or terribly muddy so I may hold off on that for the sake of easyer steering.

the point of having independent brakes on the drive axles is that you can apply brake pressure to the wheel that is spinning, which will transfer torque to the wheel that has more traction. It would work, but you kinda have to know what you are doing and is only really effective after you are stuck, instead of just both wheels working all of the time. This is how most factory traction control systems work, but with much faster response than just about any human has.

 

[NS Gearhead]

you kinda have to know what you are doing

I have a pretty good idea what I'm doing. ; )

 

[mikehaugen]

I have a pretty good idea what I'm doing. ; )

I didn't say you didn't, but based on your comment, I had to throw that in there.

 

[mikehaugen]

by the way... it's a cool idea, I have considered it before just because they want so much d*** money for those things.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Yeah, it's like that; with the SXSs you want a cab? It's extra. You want a heater? It's extra. Stereo... same. I stripped mine just because I wanted it to be the opposite of my jeep. Open air, light, small. The AC still works. : )

 

[mikehaugen]

How hard is it to take the doors off and put on? It would be nice (for me anyway) to be able to have them off in the summer and on in the winter.

 

[NS Gearhead]

4 bolts on/ off per door. You can see the hinges in the last pic. I took those off after the pic was taken. LOL You could always convert to a Jeep style pin hinge that would let you mount and dismount without tools.

 

[NS Gearhead]

So despite not dripping, the tracker's got a slight gas leak. It was stinking up the garage and has to sleep outside until I can fit it. Kinda sucks having to tarp every time.


Gathered some parts to put a muffler on it. Open header was obnoxious. Oh and 2x3s for the rockers. Haven't cut to length yet as I may hog out the wheel wells.


45 degs wan't enough, so I made three relief cuts and bent to close those gaps. Did that twice until things lined up and welded the cuts.


Like my fancy hanger? LOL


...then you'll love the manifold U bolt! : )


Tucked up nice and out of the way

 

[deezler]

how does it sound? Let's get a video of you ripping this thing across a 50 ft gap jump already, k?